Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - November 28, 2005
King Letsie III is expected to become the world's first monarch to get HIV testing publicly in order to reduce any perceived stigma, the Times of London reports.
The testing program has been planned in cooperation with the World Health Organization. Under WHO guidelines, the test is voluntary, but officials hope 90 percent of the population takes the organization up on the tests.
"This will be a major step forward," said Dr. Jim Yong Kim, head of WHO's HIV/AIDS program. "If we have 80 or 90 percent uptake of testing, which we believe we can, it will be a hugely effective way of reducing the rise in HIV infection. It could have as important an impact as a moderately effective vaccine."
Lesotho, an independent enclave surrounded by South Africa, has an HIV infection rate of 29 percent, behind only Swaziland and Botswana. Kim said that the testing program provides an opportunity to educate the population on how to prevent infection and the treatments for AIDS.
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